The first independent Republic
of Azerbaijan existed for 23 months, between May 28, 1918, and
April 28, 1920. Without a doubt, the republic existed during
the most turbulent, unstable and complicated period of local
history in the 20th century. Ethnic conflicts and continuous
wars with Armenia, aggravated by the collapse of the Russian
Empire, communist coups, civil war in Russia and the consequences
of WW I, brought the region of the Caucasus into complete turmoil.
This, in turn, facilitated the occupation of the entire region
by the Soviet Army.

However, despite the unfavorable
historical background, the Azerbaijan Republic of 1918-1920 became
the first secular state in the Orient with the first European-like
Parliament and the first Cabinet of Ministers. It was also the
first to adopt other Western-like institutions, which were implemented
for the first time in the Moslem World.

The experience of the first
Republic (also known as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic) seems
particularly precious nowadays, when almost 80 years later, Azerbaijan
is trying its best to create an independent state based on the
finest democratic traditions laid in 1918-1920.

The
Publishing House of Caspian Newspaper, the largest and most popular
publication in Baku burned and looted by armenian Dashnaks and
Communists in March 1918.

1917

October 25.Communist (Bolshevik) coup in Petrograd (St. Petersburg),
Russia, which brings about the collapse of the Russian Empire.

November
2. Baku Soviet, the Communist council of
the so-called Baku Commissars, led by Stepan Shaumyan (an Armenian
communist), becomes the supreme authority in Baku.

1918

February
23.Transcaucasian Seym (Parliament) is established
in Tbilisi (Georgia) as the Legislative power in the Transcaucasus,
with Azeris,
Georgians and Armenians holding equal representation.

March . Influence of the Musavat Azerbaijani National
Party increases, causing tensions among the Communist leadership
of the Baku Soviet, resulting in ethnic hostilities and the massacre
of about 10,000 Azeris in Baku. The massacre is carried out between
the Red (Communist) Army and the Dashnak Armenian armed units.
Soviet power in Baku is completely destroyed.

April 22. The Federation of the Republic of Transcaucasia
names ministerial posts in Tbilisi, which are distributed between
Azeri, Armenian and Georgian representatives. Tensions within
this federation develop due to German support of the Georgians,
British support of the Armenians and Turkish support of the Azeris.
The situation is further aggravated by World War I, and by the
Civil War in Russia between the Red Army of the Communists and
the White Army of the Monarchists.

Left: Mammad-Amin Rasulzade
in his youth (right) among Social Democrats M. Azizbayov (left)
and Nariman Narimanov (second from left).

Right: Officers of the Azerbaijan Army. 1919.

May
26:
The Republic of Georgia
declares its independence, causing the collapse of the Transcaucasian
Federation.

May 28.Azerbaijan and Armenia declare independence.
The formation of the first Cabinet of Ministers. Fatali-khan
Khoyski becomes Azerbaijan's first Prime Minister.

June 4. Peace and Friendship Agreement is signed
between Azerbaijan Republic and Turkey. Establishment of the
Turkish Military Mission in Ganja.

June 12.
The Second Cabinet of
Ministers is formed by Khoyski in Ganja (which, at that time,
was the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as Baku was still
under control of the Communist government).

June 16. Military offensive by the Communist Baku Soviet
against the Azeri government in Ganja is repelled with the help
of Turks.

Left: Burning and looting that took place in March
1918 when the Armenian Dashnaks and Communists attacked Baku.

June 27 -
July 1.
Geokchay Battle. Azeri and
Turkish troops defeat the Red Army and Dashnak Armenian units.

July 31. Fall of the Soviet power in Baku. The arrest of
the Baku Commissars who, subsequently, were deported to Turkmenistan
and executed by British troops (reportedly). The formation of
the so-called "Central Caspian Dictatorship" in Baku,
supported by British troops from Enzeli (Iran), whose purpose
is to prevent Turkish and Azeri advancements.

July to September. Ethnic conflicts with Armenians in Nakhchivan,
Zangezur and Karabakh, resulting in considerable fatalities among
Azeri civilians. All Azeris are forced to flee Zangezur (the
strip of land that connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan and which
has since become part of Armenia). Counter-attack and further
advancement of Azeri and Turkish forces from Ganja to Baku.

September
9. Azerbaijan adopts national flag, which
includes three stripes: blue (Turkic), red (sacrifice) and green
(Islamic), with a crescent and eight-pointed star. Beginning
in 1920, this tricolor flag is prohibited by the Soviet regime
but is finally restored when Azerbaijan regains its independence
in 1991.

September
15.
Victorious Azerbaijani and
Turkish army corps enter Baku. The capital of Azerbaijan is moved
from Ganja to Baku. Hostile ethnic outbreaks against Armenians
(in retaliation for the massacres that Armenians had inflicted
against Azerbaijanis in March 1918). The hostilities are finally
brought under control by the Azeri government and by Turkish
military commanders, who publicly execute some of their own soldiers
charged with pillaging. Solid law and order established after
a year of anarchy.

September 30. Armistice is signed between Great Britain and
Turkey in Mudros, stipulating the replacement of Turkish troops
in the Caucasus by British forces. This results in the removal
of the Turkish Army corps in Baku, led by Nuri-Pasha.

Photo:
The Brass Band of the Azerbaijan
National Army. In Ganja, autumn 1918.

November
17. The Azerbaijani Parliament establishes
the provisional legislative body of the Azerbaijan Republic.
The Parliament consists of 120 members (80 Azeris, 21 Armenians,
10 Russians, 1 Jew, 1 German, 1 Pole and 1 Georgian. Five seats
are assigned to representatives of various professional groups).

November
- December.
War breaks out between Armenia
and Georgia in the Ahalkhalaki and Ahaltshykh regions in Georgia,
where the population is predominately Armenian. Clashes result
in more than 30,000 casualties.

December
7. The opening session of the Parliament
of the Azerbaijan Republic, the first of its kind in the Islamic
world.

December
28. Declaration by British General Thompson,
in support of the Azeri Parliament as the only legal authority
within the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic.

1919

January 8. Peace Conference in Paris­Azeri governmental
delegation, led by Alimardan-bey Topchibashev, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, heads to Paris.

March 14.Formation of the Fourth Cabinet of Ministers by
Nasib-bey Usubbeyov (Yussifbeyli), the new Prime Minister.

April 25. The Conference of the Transcaucasian States in
Tbilisi (Georgia) meets to discuss political, economic and financial
issues, as well as to settle territorial disputes.

Photo:
Infantry unit of the Azerbaijan
National Army. Around 1919.

May 28. The first anniversary of the Azerbaijan Republic.
Meeting of the Azeri delegation with U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
at the Peace Conference in Paris, where there is a presentation
of a memorandum concerning the establishment of the Azerbaijan
Republic.

July
21. Men and women both guaranteed the right
to vote.

Mid-summer. General Anton I. Denikin, Commander of the Volunteer
Army to Daghestan, who had been fighting against the Communists
in Russia, advances into the Caucasus. Increased tensions between
the Azeri and Georgian governments as well as with General Denikin
over the proximity of the volunteer army on the northern borders
of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

June 27. Republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia sign a defensive
agreement, intended to prevent further advancement of Denikin's
Army.

July-August. Ethnic tensions in the mountains of Karabakh
result in riots. Agreement is between the Armenian community
and the government of Azerbaijan regarding the sovereignty of
the Azerbaijan Republic in the region.August
11. Azerbaijan adopts Law of Citizenship.

August
19.Complete withdrawal of British troops
from Baku and Azerbaijan.

September. State university is established, the first of
its kind in the Islamic world. Professor V.A. Razumovski, from
Tbilisi, becomes the first rector of the university. The first
100 Azeri students are sponsored by the Azerbaijan government
to study abroad in Europe. (Many of these students never return
to Azerbaijan due to Soviet occupation a year later.

October 30. Charter on Mass Media in the Azerbaijan Republic
is ratified. Censorship is officially repealed.

November-December.Further clashes with Armenians in Zangezur, the
region between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. Later, this
land is given to Armenia, thus separating these two parts of
Azerbaijan.

November
23.
Cease-fire agreement between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, signed in Tbilisi.

December
14. Azerbaijani-Armenian Conference in
Baku. Directive is to curb hostilities.

December
24.
Formation of the Fifth Cabinet
of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic by Nasib-bey Usubbeyov
(Yussifbeyli).

Map of the Republic of Azerbaijan
as presented to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.

1920

January
12.The Council of Allied Powers issues
the de facto republic of Azerbaijan.

January
to March. Situation at the northern borders of
the Azerbaijan Republic is further aggravated by the advance
of the Red (Soviet) Army on General Denikin's Volunteer Army.
Note by G. V. Checherin (Foreign Commissar of the Soviet Russia)
is sent to the government of the Azerbaijan Republic with a proposal
to end the military alliance against General Denikin. Khoyski,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, rejects the proposal.

February
11-12.
Foundation of the Communist
Party of Azerbaijan's "Fifth Column" with A.I. Mikoian
(an Armenian) as key figure. Preparation for Communist coup in
Baku.

March
22.Dashnak (Armenian) riots in Karabakh
are organized with the intent to distract the Azerbaijan government
from the situation in the Northern Caucasus. Battle in Askaran.

March
- April.
Complete defeat of Denikin's
Volunteer Army with concentration of the 11th Red Army troops
at the northern borders of Azerbaijan.

April
1. Resignation of the Fifth Cabinet of
Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic. Political crisis.

April
27-28.
11th Red Army troops enter
Baku. The Communist party demands resignation of the Parliament
of the Azerbaijan Republic. Soviet power is declared in Baku.

May 20. Soviet Army occupies remainder of Azerbaijan.
Uprising in Ganja is suppressed. Horrific atrocities occur when
the Communists kill 40,000 Azerbaijanis.

Summer-Autumn.
Further dissemination
of Soviet power in Azerbaijan.

December.
Fall of the Republic
of Armenia. Soviet regime is established in Yerevan.